Fiu At Sout Alabama

February 27, 1999|-- ALAN SCHMADTKE and -- CHRIS HARRY

WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m., Cajundome, Lafayette, La.

RADIO/TV: WAXY (790-AM).

RECORDS: FIU is 6-15, 12-15 Sun Belt; S. Alabama is 11-15, 6-8.

OF NOTE: Third-seeded FIU enters the Sun Belt Conference Tournament against former Golden Panther mentor Bob Weltich and sixth-seeded South Alabama. South Alabama, the two-time defending tournament champion, will be trying to be the first team to win three straight titles since Alabama-Birmingham in 1982-84. FIU and the Jaguars split the regular-season series, each winning on its home court. FIU must neutralize South Alabama's All-Conference F Darrian Evans, who ranks first in the conference in scoring, second in rebounding (7.7 rpg) and third in steals (2.0 spg). South Alabama lost its last two regular-season games by a total of four points. The Golden Panthers are the hottest team in the league, having won their past five and six of seven.

MARYLAND AT FSU

WHEN/WHERE: 1:30 p.m., Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center.

TV/RADIO: None.

RECORDS: FSU is 12-15, 5-10 ACC; Maryland is 24-4, 12-3.

OF NOTE: Following a tradition he set in his first season last year, FSU coach Steve Robinson will start all his seniors. That means walk-on Gibson Pierre, who has played only five minutes, will start alongside senior G Terrell Baker (6-5 Sr., 13.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and play probably until the first whistle. It's as good a starting combination as any, considering the Seminoles have lost eight in a row in conference play. They have been outrebounded in nine of their past 10 games. Led by G Steve Francis (6-3 Jr., 16.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and F Terrence Morris (6-9 Soph., 15.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Maryland beat FSU 107-87 on Jan. 27. FSU tried to run with the Terrapins and it may happen again. "We turned the ball over too many times," Robinson said. "I didn't like the turnovers, but I was comfortable with the pace."

-- ALAN SCHMADTKE

FLORIDA AT VANDERBILT

WHEN/WHERE: 2 p.m., Memorial Gym, Nashville, Tenn.

TV: WAMI (Ch. 69).

RECORDS: Florida is 19-6, 10-5 SEC; Vanderbilt is 13-14, 4-11.

OF NOTE: The 19th-ranked Gators are playing their best basketball of the season but had better not overlook the wounded Commodores. Forget that Vandy has lost four of its past five and eight of 10. Consider that UF is 1-8 at Nashville this decade and will be facing a Commodores team that will say goodbye to coach and alumnus Jan van Breda Kolff, who announced his resignation Thursday, and senior F Dan Langhi (17.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg), the SEC's second-leading scorer. Much has been made of the shooting of UF's Kenyan Weaks (11.2 ppg) and Greg Stolt (10.1 ppg) of late, but the recent play of F Brent Wright (13.5 points, 75 percent from floor, 10.5 rebounds over last two games) bears watching.